Now, Geron’s former chief executive Thomas Okarma, and founder Michael West, have joined forces with a new subsidiary of BioTime, a biotech company based in Alameda, California. Together they have put forward a bid for Geron’s stem cell assets in an effort to revive the programme.

Meanwhile, the four volunteers that received hESCs for spinal injuries are being monitored for adverse effects by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine in San Francisco. “I’m happy to say that everything is still fine,” says Kevin McCormack of CIRM, “which is a good sign for anyone buying the cell lines as it gives them a strong starting point for further clinical trials.”